The survey, of data from 2008, found that 67 percent of abortion patients traveled less than 25 miles, 16 percent traveled 25–49 miles, 11 percent traveled 50–100 miles and 6 percent traveled more than 100 miles. The average distance traveled was 30 miles. Unsurprisingly, those seeking second-trimester abortions–which are offered by two-thirds of U.S. abortion providers–often ended up going farther.

25 miles doesn’t seem all that far to me, but I am a privileged girl who can afford gas and a car, and I have a job that would allow me a few days off to travel. Many women are not so lucky.

The survey is from 2008, and the number of women who will be forced to travel long distances is sure to increase, as more bills in Kansas, Arkansas, North Dakota, and Texas that shut down abortion clinics and limit access become law. These figures show the devastating effects of sweeping abortion bans that limit patients’ access to abortions, which are necessary medical procedures. As Feministing points out, it’s more than just geography that leads women to travel to seek out their healthcare—waiting periods greatly affect where women choose to have their abortions.

The survey found that people who lived in a state with a 24-hour waiting period were more than twice as likely to travel greater distances as those in states with no waiting period requirement. And this survey doesn’t even include folks who weren’t able to get an abortion at all due to these barriers. In short, anti-choice laws do what they’re intended to do: make it more difficult for people to get the reproductive health care they need.

Hah! What a ridiculous article. I would say the fact that 67 percent of women seeking abortions can get one within 25 miles is a sign that pro-CHOICE is working out pretty damned well. I drive 32 miles to work every day, my husband drives 40, and we (like half the American population) lives in an area that is self-identified as ‘the suburbs’. I don’t think that having to take a 45 minute drive to get an abortion should be seen as an unnecessary inconvenience on someone’s life.

And if they don’t have a car? Well… most places have an excellent public transit system anymore.

Julia Sonenshein

Or, actually most places don’t have excellent public transit systems? It’s lucky that both you and your husband have cars.

Beth

I’m sure they will get along just fine… And you? You will continue writing moronic crap about nonexistent issues.

Hey Beth, I think Julia should really be more thankful for your input because you are supporting her career each time you write troll comments. It’s your traffic to each of her articles (you seem quite supportive) that is helping her get paid; there isn’t any “luck” involved in that. So Julia, let’s be a little more thankful, okay?